Wagon end-gate.



W. E. CRAWFORD.

WAGON END GATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1913.

1 ,1 24,300, Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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w I w/Z ZYD/B/SE/ fi 32 java/722,57. V /5 WILLIAM E. CRRWFo n TFT WILLIAM E. CRAWFORD, OF CHAPIN, IOWA.

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menace.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Application filed August as, 1913. Serial No. 786,633.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. CRAW- roan, citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chapin, Franklin county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Wagon End-Gate, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for wagon endgates.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for mounting a wagon end-gate.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the device in position for use. Fig. 2 is an inner sectional elevation of the device. Fig. 3 a detail section on the line 33 of Fig. l, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4: is an elevation illustrating the construction of the engaging end portion of a securing bar. Fig. 5 is a detail face view, on an enlarged scale, of a holding plate.

In the construction of the device as shown the numeral 10 designates the bottom boards, 11 the rear cross-beam, and 12, 13 the side boards of a wagon-box, which may be of any desired construction. Inner cleats 14:, 15 and outer cleats 16, 17 are fixed in spaced relations to the side boards 12, 13 in.

a common manner and form slideways or vertical grooves between them for the endgate. The end-gate proper is composed of mating members 18, 19 meeting at their inner ends on the median line of the wagonboX, and adapted to be received at their outer ends between the cleats li-16 and 1517 respectively. The end-gate members 18, 19 are pivotally connected by a hinge 20 on their inner faces; and also by cross-bars 21, 22 countersunk in their inner faces and pivotally connected at their adjacent ends by a pintle pin 23 above the hinge 20. An operatingmember 2-1 is fixed to the rear face of the gate member 18 and extends beyond said member and nearly across the mating gate member 19. A vertically slotted plate 25 is fixed to the cleat 17 and a latch ing lever 26, preferably formed with a parti-circular head and a depending handle, is eccentrically pivoted on a screw 27 to the free end of the operating member 24 and is adapted to engage at times in the slot of the plate 25. The side boards l2, 13 are formed with apertures 28 (one of which is shown in Fig, 3) in their rear end portions and plates 29, 30 are fixed on outer surfaces of said side boards adjacent said apertures. The plates 29, 30 are formed with longitudinal slots 31 (one of which is shown in Fig. 3) registering with the slots 28. The cross-bars 21, 22 are formed with projecting heads 21, 22 on their end portions extendlng beyond the ends of the gate members 18, 19, and said heads are connected to the bars by restricted neck portions 22 (see Fig. 1). The cross-bars 21, 22 are bent or curved rearwardly somewhat where they project beyond the gate members 18, 19, for convenience in seating them in the apertures 28. Relatively narrowslots or notches 32 (one of which is shown in Fig. 3) are formed in the plates 29, 30 and com-. municating with the rear ends of the slots 31, and said notches are designed to receive the neck portions of the cross-bars 21, 22. The plates 29, 30, in those portions surrounding the notches 32, are bent, turned, beveled or inclined inwardly toward the center of the wagon box as shown in Fig. 3, to facilitate the seating of the lugs 22 and guide them to the said notches.

To place the end-gate in position the mem here 18, 19 are turned slightly on their hinges and the outer ends thereof are started between the cleats lei-16 and 1517. F or ward pressure on the operating member 24 will then cause the end portions of said gate members to enter the spaces between said cleats, the. heads of the cross-bars 21, 22 passing through the apertures 28 of the side boards and through the slots 31 of the plates 29, 30. The curvature of the projecting ends of the bars 21, 22 facilitates this operation, and causes the neck portions 22 thereof to enter the notches 32, the heads 21 22 being located then wholly outside the plates 29, 30. erably are beveled slightly on their outer surfaces adjacent the notches 32 to facilitate proper seating of the bar ends therein. The operating member 2% is moved forward to contact with the gate member 19, when the members 18, 19 lie in the same transverse plane, and the latching lever 26 is then turned on its pivot, which causes the mar ginal portion of the circular head thereof to The plates 29, 30 pref enter the slot of the plate 25, thus holding and maintaining the operating member 24: and the gate members in closed position. The great advantage of this improvement is the elimination of the end-gate rod with its securing nut. The fixed bars 18, 19' With their ends engaging in recesses in the side boards take the place of the end-gate rod, and the operation of securing in closed position is simple and easy of accomplishment. All strain on the end-gate is borne by the cleats 14L, 15, 16, 17. The operating member 24 provides a convenient means for seating the end-gate, and 'strengthensthe connection between the members 18, 19.

I claim as my invention In a Wagon box having side boards and spaced vertical cleats thereon, mating endgate members hinged together at their inner ends and adapted to be received at their outer ends between said cleats, apertures in Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the said side boards, plates on outer faces of said side boards and apertured to correspond, notches in said plates opening to the apertures thereof, said plates being beveled or inclined inwardly around said notches, lugs projecting from end portions of said endgate members, said lugs formed With restricted neck portions adapted to be received Within said notches and head portions adapted to project outside of said plates, an operating member fixed to one and crossing the other of said end-gate members, and means for securing the free end of said operating member.

Signed by me at Chapin, Iowa, this 17th day of May, 1913. I

' WILLIAM E. CRAWFORD. "Witnesses P. W. CRAWFORD,

R. FRANK CLARK.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

